Ōhiwa Harbour

Ōhope has two sides. On one is the open ocean beach. On the other, behind a long sandspit, is Ōhiwa Harbour: shallow, sheltered, dotted with islands and one of the busiest recreational waterways in the eastern Bay of Plenty. From Salt & Pepper it’s about 3 minutes’ drive up the road to the wharf at Port Ōhope, or a 30-minute walk.

Fishing

• Off the wharf: the wharf at Port Ōhope is the easy family option, and there’s a BBQ area nearby.
• Surfcasting: the ocean beach across the road from the houses is popular for surfcasting, especially early and late in the day.
• Charters: Ōhiwa Fishing Charters runs trips on The Cougar from the Ōhope wharf, including out to the Ōpōtiki mussel farm. You can bring your own gear or hire rods on board. Whakatāne also has offshore and game-fishing charters.

Check the current size and bag limits on the MPI NZ Fishing Rules app before you go.

Bringing a boat

If you’re towing a boat or jet ski, the harbour is the place to use it, and it’s only minutes from the houses. Water-skiing and jet-skiing are allowed, but some areas are zoned, so read the signs at the boat ramp and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s boating guide first. The harbour is shallow in places and the channels change with the tide, so take it slowly until you know it.

At the houses, side access is tight, so the easiest thing is to unhitch out front or park the trailer across the road.

Kayaking and paddleboarding

The flat water makes the harbour ideal for kayaks and paddleboards, and it’s a good place to swim with younger kids. Paddle out around the islands, or hire a kayak or join a guided trip with KG Kayaks. If you’d rather sail, ProSail runs skippered catamaran charters for groups of up to 12.

Birdlife

Ōhiwa is one of the best birdwatching spots in the region, especially from spring, when bar-tailed godwits arrive after their flight from Alaska. You may also see pied stilts, oystercatchers, herons, banded rails and, now and then, royal spoonbills. Bring binoculars.

Eat and drink

• Port Ōhope General Store & Café: all-day café menu, takeaways and frozen yoghurt, right by the wharf.
• Tio Ōhiwa Oyster Farm: farming oysters in the harbour since 1968.
• Ōhiwa Macadamias: spray-free macadamia nuts from a local grower.

Walk it off

Tauwhare Pā, above the harbour, is a short climb to a historic pā site with views over Ohakana Island and Port Ōhope. For more walks, see our Ōhope walks guide.

Your base for the water

Salt and Pepper are two four-bedroom beach houses on Ocean Road, across from the beach and 3 minutes from the harbour. Each sleeps 8. More ideas in things to do in Ōhope.